Court Looks For Key Witness In Murder Case
By Rol Ezam & Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Brunei High Court is looking urgently for a 70year-old man, a key witness, to give evidence in a murder case.

He is Mr Teo Hoon @ Teo Ah Hoon whom the defence lawyers, aim to produce before Chief Justice Dato-Mohd Saied and Dato Steven Chong in the ongoing trial of a local car salesman and neighbour, Richard Chia Kok Hiong accused of triple murder two years ago.

But despite all efforts by lawyers, to track down Mr Teo and serve summons on him have been fruitless.

The lawyers, Cheok Sankaran & Halim even inserted an advertisement in the Borneo Bulletin last week seeking him to contact them urgently.

But there has been no response. His family members too have been unable to help.

In Brunei's most horrendous murder in recent memory, car salesman Richard, 53, is accused of brutally killing Maul bin Jambu, 44, his wife Seniwati Untong, 37, a lecturer who was tortured and their adopted daughter Neena Asmira aged two who was smothered with a pillow in their home.

Their bodies were found in a government bungalow in Kampong Serusop in the Brunei capital in mid December 2004 and Richard, a neighbour was arrested two months later and charged and has been police remand jail ever since. He is denying all charges.

Richard is basing his defence on alibi saying he was elsewhere during the killing.

He said he was with his friends including Teo Ah Hoon during that fateful night of the murder.

In court Richard detailed his movements on December 15, 2004 as follows:

7.15pm

Teo Ah Hoon, a family friend who was around 70 years old came to my house inviting me to join him to the 'tahlil' ceremony at Pehin Zainuddin's house.

Pehin Zainuddin's mother had recently passed away. Pehin Zainuddin was at that time the Deputy Commissioner of Police, he is currently the Commissioner of Police. His house was at the Police Headquarters in Gadong. I went there using my Nissan Cefiro, KG 9494, with Teo Ah Hoon as my passenger.

7.30pm

At Pehin Zainuddin's house at Police Headquarters, Gadong. I called Jack Keasberry when I was at Pehin Zainuddin house for him to join us at Haji Morneh Restaurant later that night.

10.30pm

Left Pehin Zainuddiun's house with Teo Ah Hoon.

10.45pm

Arrived home at Serusop with Teo Ah Hoon. We went upstairs to my house where we both had a drink. I took at five-litre box of 'deli-cious red' wine from the house as I

wanted to take this to Haji Morneh Restaurant.

11.00pm

Left my house. Teo Ah Hoon drove his car back to his house Jalan Muara. I drove Nissan Cefiro, KG 9494 behind Teo Ah Hoon's car. Upon reaching his house, Teo Ah Hoon parked his car and immediately came into my car. We drove to Haji Morneh's restaurant, also at Jalan Muara.

11.15pm

Arrived at Hj Morneh's restaurant. Jack Keasberry joined us. In Jack Keasberry's statement to the police, he said that I picked him from his house. I believe he is confused with the dates. I did pick him up on December 16, 2004 to go to Hj Morneh Restaurant, but on December 15, 2004, as I remember it, he went to the restaurant by himself.

We had beer and were singing karaoke at the restaurant. Hj Morneh, the owner of the restaurant and who is the father in-law of Pehin Zainuddin, was present at the restaurant.

1.35am (16th December 2004)

Left Hj Morneh's restaurant driving my Nissan Cefiro, KG 9494. Teo Ah Hoon was my passenger. I dropped him off at his house and proceeded home.

1.50am

Reached my flat, parked my Nissan Cefiro, KG 9494 on the ground floor of my flat and immediately went up the stairs of my house I had a shower and went to bed. I fellasleep at about 2.30am.

Prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Haji Yusree and assisted by DPP Pengiran Nina Jasmine.

Awang Yusof Halim and Siva Sankaran are defending. Hearing continues.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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